After years of planning, our new Myanmar expeditions are off and running. Small groups, intrepid travel, tropical rides, few tourists, enchanting ruins, warm welcoming smiles, and tranquil roads with no traffic - high adventure!

More of an expedition than cycling tour, these trips are our first in the country. Along with the fascinating and rich cultural environment, you can expect some degree of spontaneity, aka predicaments and setbacks, which are particular to this part of the world, degree of development, and Buddhist nature. Like the first explorers to join us in Vietnam, we hope adapting to the conforms of the local culture will contribute to our experience, rather than vice versa.

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Morning Yangon arrival from Bangkok. Following a first taste of local cuisine during lunch, we will tour of the vibrant and diverse capital of Myanmar ending with sunset at the spectacular Shwedagon Paya. After orientation dinner, strolling through the night market and downtown area near the hotel.

Day 2: After breakfast, transfer to the airport for our short flight to Heho and transfer to mile-high Taunggyi, the capital of the Shan state and former British colonial hill station. After lunch, bikes assembly and testing with a brief ride around town to familiarize everyone with Burmese-style roads and traffic. All meals included.

Day 3: Kakku and Inle Lake. Early morning departure by bus to Kakku, a lesser known but impressive site comprised of several thousand small stupas in the Pa O region. At last, cycling begins after lunch back to Taunggyi with a magnificent descent of nearly 2,000 feet to Inle Lake. Includes: (B), (L).

Day 4: Inle Lake and Kalaw. Morning will take us out onto Inle Lake for a boat tour of the picturesque floating gardens and fishing villages. The short but challenging ride up out of the Inle Lake basin takes us through scenic country side to Kalaw, another hill station filled with interesting architecture. Depending on the time, we can wander through the market or ride around the city looking at the decaying colonial mansions. All meals included.

Day 5: Kalaw to Pindaya. Today we head north to Pindaya on a road flanked by beautifully manicured fields where much of Myanmar’s produce comes from. Before dinner we will visit the Buddha image filled Pindaya caves and catch the sunset from the hill side. All meals included.

Day 6: Pindaya to Mandalay. The most demanding day of the tour goes northwest on a recently paved road through mountains and jungle-lined roads to Kyaukse where the bus will transfer us the remaining distance "on the road to Mandalay". Mandalay is the historic old capital, but remains the center of Myanmar culture and religion. It is also where traditional arts and crafts are centered. Myanmar abounds with historical sites, cultural memorials and Buddhist monuments and we will explore some of them after arrival. All meals included.

Day 7: Day tour of Mandalay, the religious and cultural center of Myanmar. From ancient wooden palaces to massive pagodas to serene monasteries, Mandalay has it all. We will end the day with a sunset view from the peaceful Sagaing Hill across the Ayeyarwaddy River. All meals included.

Day 8: After breakfast, transfer out of Mandalay by bus to Ondaw. Today features a ride west into the desert landscape of central Myanmar where bullock carts still significantly out number cars. There are several interesting sites to explore on the way to the provincial capital of Monywa including a pagoda with over 300,000 Buddha images and a monumental reclining Buddha.

Day 9: Monywa to Bagan. Heading south out of Monywa we take a seldom-driven road through a rice growing region along the Chindwind River to Pakokku. Here we take a local ferry across the river and transfer into Bagan by bus for sunset on a pagoda. Dinner and delightful, traditional puppet show in Old Bagan. All meals included.

Day 10: With over forty square kilometers and thousands of pagodas, Bagan is nothing short of breath taking. If there is time, we can visit the market which has a pleasant mix of local and tourist shops. Dinner along the river outside will include a Myanmar cultural show of dance, athletics and puppetry with excellent photo opportunities. Includes: (B), (L).

Day 11: Mt. Popa and the final day of riding. We cycle round trip to an extinct volcano, Mt. Popa, which dominates the area. Mount Popa was for centuries where kings of central Burma made pilgrimages to confer with the sacred statues about the future of their reigns. We'll climb the hundreds of steps to the monkey-populated hill, for a expansive, panoramic views of the surrounding area. Optional return ride to Bagan. Another dramatic sunset in Bagan. Includes: (B), (L).

M19590 organized the first cycling trips to Vietnam in 1992. We continue to organize the most cycling trips to Vietnam than any other company. Since then, we've expanded our trips into Thailand and Myanmar.
What sets us apart? Over 90% of our tours are custom-tailored private journeys for couples, families, and...